CHAPTER 9
A guard came into view; he froze upon seeing her and whipped his pistol out of its holster. “Where did you come from?” he growled, as he fired the pistol.
To his evident shock, the bullet went right through Monica’s chest without harming her. An amused smile spread across the angel’s face. “I came from Heaven. From God.” A Heavenly light poured off the Irish-tongued angel; she smiled, then reached out to the guard. “I am an angel, Ahmad Pahlavi, sent by God. Not the false God you call Allah, but the true God of the universe who created you, and who loves you more than you could ever comprehend.”
She laid a couple of fingers on the pistol’s cold metal surface. “I cannot be harmed by human weapons, so it is useless to fire your gun at me.”
Ahmad’s face turned pale; his hands trembled as he slipped his gun back into the holster. “Don’t be frightened,” Monica said gently. “God sent me to you because He has a message for you.”
“A message?” Ahmad’s voice shook. “What kind of message?”
“The message is this: God loves you. He wants you to know that.” Monica clasped her hands in front of her waist. “And He wants you to release the two prisoners your commandant locked up today.”
Backing away, Ahmad glared at her. “I recognize no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet! Allah commanded us to kill all infidels who won’t convert, and Jews are infidels! He commanded us to take back all holy places that have been taken from us, and Israel was taken from my people back in the 1940s!” he shouted. “I will not—!”
Monica raised her hand to silence him. “Yes, you will. You must! You and your fellow Arabs are on a campaign to destroy a nation and a people God loves and chose for Himself, thousands of years ago. The hatred you and other Moslems bear toward His chosen people does not come from Him. It comes from the evil one—from the devil himself.”
She took a step forward. “The true God loves you so much, Ahmad. He wants you to know His love, to live in it, and to love Him in return. He also wants you to love other people, including Jews.” She touched his arm. “He does not want you to turn Theodor Agnon over to the Russians, but to set him free. Rafael, too.”
Ahmad shook his head stubbornly. “I don’t believe you. Allah wants Israel destroyed, and he will help us accomplish our goal. In fact, he is sending the Russians and their Eastern European allies to help us.”
Monica’s eyes turned sad. For a few seconds, she stood there, silently. “The Russians are playing a trick on your people.” She paused, as the guard’s mouth dropped open in disbelief. “The Russians have said they will help you invade Israel, yes. But they also intend to invade every Middle-Eastern country they’ve pledged to help. Including yours.” She bit her lower lip. “In fact, Ahmad, they’re invading your country right now, even as we speak.”
Ahmad gaped at her. “No,” he hissed. “You’re lying! The Russians would never betray us!”
She shook her head. “No, Ahmad. As an angel of the Most High God, I am an angel of truth. It is the truth that will set you free—not lies.” Monica sighed. “And the truth is, the Russian army is marching into Iran right now, with the intent to take it over. They want to control the whole land bridge, so they can take over Europe, Asia, and Africa. Not just Israel, but all other countries, too.” She paused. “However, they will not succeed—they will, indeed, sweep through Israel and, later, try to annihilate it, but God will destroy them when they do. He will rescue Israel from the destruction your people and the Russians have planned for them.”
Ahmad stared into her eyes for a long moment. He sagged his shoulders. “You’re—you’re not lying,” he said, at last, his voice subdued. “The Russians really are invading their own allies?”
Monica nodded. “Yes, Ahmad. They are. You will need God to see you through the hard times that are starting. Not just for you and your country, but for the whole world.”
The guard turned his back to her and thrust his face into his hands. Silently, Monica watched him struggle with his emotions. Please, Father, she prayed. Get through to him! Open his heart.
END OF CHAPTER 9